Out to Innovate Scholarship: Empowering LGBTQ+ Students in STEM

The Out to Innovate Scholarships, established in 2011, are designed to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) programs. These scholarships aim to promote academic excellence and increase the visibility of talented LGBTQ+ students in STEM fields.

Overview of the Out to Innovate Scholarship

The Out to Innovate Scholarships recognize the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion within STEM fields. By providing financial assistance and support to LGBTQ+ students, the scholarships help remove barriers to academic success and career advancement. The scholarships are designed to promote academic excellence and increased visibility of talented LGBTQ+ students in STEM careers.

Eligibility and Application

Beginning in 2025, the Out to Innovate Scholarships are available to undergraduate students only. Graduate students are encouraged to apply for the Out to Innovate Career Development Fellowship. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to furthering LGBTQ+ visibility, diversity, and inclusion in STEM. A declared major in an accredited STEM or STEM-related teaching field is required.

The application process consists of three sections: profile, application, and references. The profile section collects contact information. The application form requires scholastic, demographic, and financial information, along with a personal statement (1000-word maximum). Applicants must provide contact information for at least two people who have agreed to write letters of recommendation.

Funding and Scholarship Details

Scholarship availability depends on funding and may not be offered every year. The Motorola Solutions Foundation has funded the Out to Innovate Scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year for technology and engineering undergraduate students. The Amy A. Ross Scholarship in Bioscience is a permanent addition to the scholarship portfolio.

Out to Innovate Career Development Fellowship

The Out to Innovate Career Development Fellowship is a non-renewing, merit-based award intended to support the recipient’s professional development. This fellowship was initially named after Ben Barres, a passionate transgender Stanford scientist who researched the role of microglia and championed equal opportunity in science.

Eligible Purposes for Funding

The support provided by the fellowship is broadly construed for the recipient’s professional development. Examples of eligible purposes include:

Research support
Conference/workshop attendance or research travel
Equipment/supplies
Research assistant or translation services
Other professional uses

The fund is not intended to support personal expenses unrelated to research, such as food or rent, or for salary.

Application Process

To apply for this fellowship, applicants must provide a brief description of their current research and research/career goals with a 2-3 paragraph funding proposal, a personal statement, their CV, and answers to demographics questions. Each application must have one letter of support, which may be written by a PI, Mentor, Advisor, or Colleague. The letter of support will be submitted by the recommender (not the applicant).

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated on the following criteria:

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Clarity of written proposal
Impact of proposed funding on the applicant's career
Contributions to STEM and LGBTQ+ communities
Strength of support letter

If awarded funds, the recipient will upload a brief report and expense receipts within 6 months of receiving the award. Recipients of the fellowship retain the option of remaining anonymous in public announcements of the award or may choose to be publicly acknowledged in Out to Innovate publicity campaigns.

Success Stories

Amelia León, a master’s student of epidemiology at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, won a 2021 Out to Innovate $8,000 graduate scholarship. León researches experiences of intimate partner violence in transgender and cisgender women at the Southern HIV & Alcohol Research Consortium (SHARC) Lab and is the lead organizer for Reflect Collective. León's story exemplifies the impact of the Out to Innovate Scholarship in supporting LGBTQ+ students in STEM and empowering them to make significant contributions to their fields.

Additional Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities

Several other scholarships and fellowships are available to support students pursuing higher education. These opportunities cater to various fields of study, backgrounds, and interests.

STEM-Specific Scholarships and Fellowships

American Chemical Society Scholars Program: Awards renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students in chemistry or related fields.
A.I.S.E.S. Scholarship Fund: Supports American Indian, Alaska Native, and other indigenous students pursuing STEM fields.
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship: Recognizes outstanding students in mathematics, engineering, and natural sciences.
N.S.F. Graduate Research Fellowship Program (G.R.F.P.): Supports graduate students in STEM fields with a strong history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers.
SHPE Scholarships: Offers scholarships to Hispanic students pursuing STEM degrees.

Diversity and Inclusion-Focused Scholarships and Fellowships

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund: Encourages racial and ethnic minority students to apply to law school.
Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarships: Awarded to students committed to working with American Indian/Alaska Native or Hispanic/Latino populations.
Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Graduate Scholarship: Awarded by the N.C.A.A. to ethnic minorities and female college graduates entering graduate studies.
Gates Millennium Scholars Program: Provides scholarships to outstanding minority students.
Point Foundation Scholarship: Nation's largest higher education scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students.
Phillips Academy Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT): Addresses the lack of diversity in the nation's teaching faculties by recruiting outstanding students of color and other scholars committed to diversity.

Other Scholarship and Fellowship Programs

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships: Offers fellowships to women pursuing graduate studies and postdoctoral research.
American Bar Foundation Summer Research Fellowships: Provides undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds with an opportunity to pursue graduate study in law and social science.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: Supports U.S. undergraduates receiving Federal Pell Grant funding to study and intern abroad.
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships: Provides funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study critical languages abroad.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program: Offers intensive language instruction in critical languages for U.S. students.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs worldwide.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans: Supports immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate education in the United States.
QuestBridge National College Match: Connects high-achieving, low-income students with top colleges.

Internship Programs

APAICS Summer Internship Program: Provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., and experience American politics and public policy.
Capital Fellows Programs: Offers a variety of fellowship opportunities in California state government.
CBCF Internship Programs: Prepares college students and young professionals to become principled leaders by exposing them to the processes that develop national policies and implement them.
CHCI’s Graduate Fellowship Program: Designed for exceptional emerging Latino leaders who want to immerse themselves in a specific public policy area.
Cultural Vistas Fellowship Program: Provides multinational professional development programs with summer internships in Argentina, Germany, and Hong Kong.
DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE): Places students in international research internships.
Department of Energy Scholars Program: Offers unique opportunities that introduce students to the agency’s mission and operations.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Financial Management Scholars Program: Provides a summer internship program focused on ensuring banks are following safe banking practices.

Programs for Specific Groups

American Indian Nurse Scholarship Award Program: Started by the NSCDA to give students of American Indian descent the opportunity to pursue careers in nursing.
Chevron Scholarships: Awarded to American Indian, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, First Nations, and other indigenous peoples of North America.
NextEra Energy-Ford Dry Lake Scholarship Program: Supports members of participating Arizona and California Indian Tribes pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities.

Resources for LGBTQ+ Students Studying Abroad

Studying abroad can be an enriching experience, but LGBTQ+ students may have specific concerns. It is important to research the laws and customs of the host country regarding LGBTQ+ individuals. Attitudes towards members of the LGBTQ+ community vary by location. Some countries may have laws that criminalize same-sex relationships or discriminate against transgender individuals.

Resources like the U.S. Department of State and LGBTQ+ travel guides can provide valuable information. It is also helpful to connect with LGBTQ+ organizations or communities in the host country.

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